Timepiece regulating system and method



May 14, 1940. F. 'r. HICKS TIMEPIECE REGULATING SYSTEM AND METHODOriginal Filed Oct. 31, 1935 INVENTOR Patented May 14, into 2,2t0,6ti

PATENT TIIVIEPIECE REGULATING SYSTEM ltiETHOD Application October 31,1935, Serial No; 47,640 Renewed September 15, 1939 4 Claims. '(01. 73-51-My invention pertains to regulating timepieces and more particularly toa simple method of and apparatus for quickly regulating watches andother chronometers.

g It is an object of my invention to provide a simplified watchregulating system utilizing an adjustable time retarding device foraudibly comparing the operation of a watch to be regulated with astandard watch whereby complicated vism 'ual indicators and rotatingelements are eliminated.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a simple watchregulating system for comparing the operation of a timepiece which is tobe regld ulated with the operation of a standard timepiece which:comprises means for impressing impulses from one watch, arranged forconveniently regulating, upon one ear of an operator through adjustabletime retarding means, from an amplifler having an adjustable volumecontrol, and means for holding the other watch directly upon the otherear of the operator.

It is a further object of my invention to pro- 'vide a simplified methodof regulating timepieces as by comparing the operation of a timepiecewhich is to be regulated with a standard timepiece by applying the soundof the ticks of one timepiece directly to the ear and applying the ticksof the other timepiece through an adjustable time re- 30 tarding deviceto the other ear whereby a binaural balance may be obtained, observingthe relative operation of the timepiece after the binaural balance hasbeen obtained and thereafter adjusting one of the timepieces to maintainthe as binaural balance. I

The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest beunderstood from the following de- 40 scription of specificembodiments, when read in collliijlinction with the accompanyingdrawing, in w c Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view representing a watchregulating system arranged in accordance 5 with my invention; and vFigure 2 is a detail view illustrating a. watch holding device forsupporting a standard watch on the ear of the operator.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of 50 the drawing, it will beseen that a watch regulating system arranged in accordance with myinvention comprises generally a. sound pick-up.

microphone H upon which a. watch l3 to be regulated is convenientlyplaced, an interconnected 5o electronic amplifying device l5 andassociated adjustable time retarding units A and B from which theamplified impulses are transmitted to a sound reproducing device H suchas a telephone receiver on a suitable headband IS,

The microphone H is preferably a piezo-elec- 5 trio type and the soundreproducing telephone receiver H, which is supported upon the ear oftheoperator, is likewise preferably a piezo-electric type havingaccurate response to the higher frequencies. The interconnectingelectronic am- 1 plifier i is likewise selected to have similar highfidelity characteristics for the higher frequencies in order that theaccurate obtaining of a binaural balance may be facilitated and itcomprises a volume controller M5 for varying the amplification thereof,as by varying a resistor connected into any suitable part of theamplifier circuit, in a well known manner. Amplifiers are obtainable on'the market which are provided with volume controllers and such am- '2plifiers, per se, form no part of my invention. In assembling the unitsof my system the piezoelectric sound pick-up device H is coupled to theinput circuit of the amplifier by any suitable coupling means, which maycomprise a resistor 2| which is connected in circuit 22, 23 with thepick-up device II, and a coupling condenser 25 which is connectedbetween one end of the resister and an input terminal of the amplifier.The other end of. the resistor 2i is connected to the other inputterminal of the amplifier through a suitable conductor 21.

The time retarding devices, A and B, comprise time delay networksincluding inductances 3| connected in series relation throughinterconnecting conductors 33 and associated with bypassing condensers35 which are connected across between the interconnecting inductanceconductors 33 to a conductor 31 which extends directly to the retardingdevices A and B from the amplifler I5. From the junction conductors 33between the series connected inductances 3| of the first retardingdevice A, conductors 39 are connected to the contacts 41 of a multipleposition Switch comprising a brush 43 movable to selec- 45 tively engagethe contacts '41 whereby various sections of the retarding network maybe switched in or out of the circuit. From the movable brush l3 of theswitching means associated with device A a conductor 45 extends to theinput end of the network of the second'time delay device B which may beof similar construction. From the junction point of series connectedinductances l! of the second retarding device B, conductors All areextended to the stationary contacts SI of a ductor 55 extends. Bysuitably selecting the inductances and condensers of the time retarding'device A, large units of retardation may be thereby provided. In thedevice B the inductances and condensers are preferably so selected thatvery small units of time-delay are intro- 'duced thereby. Thus it willbe readily understood that by properly adjusting the two switches andselecting suitable combinations of coarse units and fine units connectedin series relation a very fine adjustment of time retardation may beconveniently obtained by the operator.

5 For convenience the adjustable switches 43 and 53 are preferablymounted adjacent whereby the operator may conveniently adjust themovable brushes of one and then the other to obtain a precise balance.It will be understood that various other forms of time-delay network maybe utilized in the time-delay devices, if desired, and also additionalbanks of time units may be provided in series connected relation. Thetime-delaying sections A and B are well-known in the '25 electricalarts, and the applicant does not claim to have provided any improvementtherein. From the last time-delay device of the series, the delayedimpulses are impressed through conductors 31 and 55 upon the input of asecond amplifier unit 51, having a volume controller 58, by means ofwhich they are amplified to 1 desired level. From the output of thesecond amplifier unit 57 the impulses are transmitted by suitableconductors 59 and 61 to the sound reproducing headphone H.

The other member of the headset comprises a holder for supporting awatch correctly upon the other ear of the operator. This watch ispreferably the standard watch with which the operator wishes to comparethe operation of the watch which is to be regulated.

As shown in Figure 2, the watch-supporting holder comprises a circulardisc shaped casing 63 having a cavity in one side thereof for receivingthe standard watch 65. The Watch-receiving cavity is preferably linedwith felt or other fibrous material 61, and it is partially closedaround its open side by a cap 69 which fits over the open edge, theadjacent engaging surfaces being cooperatively threaded. The lower rimof the casing 63 isprovided with a cut-out portion or slot H into whichthe stem 13 of the standard watch 65 is inserted when it is placedwithin the casing. The cover 69 is then screwed upon the casing 63 tohold the watch firmly in position. The casing is pivotally supportedbetween the ends 14 of a U-shaped bracket 15 on a shaft H whichpivotally slides through bearings 19 on the ,headband IS in the mannerusual with headphones.

In operation the operator places the watch l3 which is to be regulatedupon the piezo-electric sound pick-up device I l. He then puts on theheadset and listens simultaneously to the ticks of the two watches. Byproperly adjustingthe volume control on either amplifier, the volume orintensity of the sounds applied to the ears is adjusted to besubstantially equal from both watches. The operator then adjusts thetimedelay devices A and B until the ticks of the two timepieces areaccurately synchronized when the sound will seem to be centered'directlyin front of him. The sounds are then binaurally bal anced. By thusutilizing the operators binaural sense it is possible to very accuratelydetermine when the sounds are precisely synchronized because theoperator will be conscious of a. time variation of a very short intervalof the order of one ten-thousandth of a second 0. less.

After having obtained a binaural balance the operator continues tolisten, and as one watch runs slightly faster than the other its tickswill soon become relatively advanced and the effect will be as thoughthe source of sound was moving from in front of the operator toward theside corresponding to the ear associated with the faster timepiece.If,-for example, the test watch I3 is running ten seconds fast per dayit will gain one one-thousandth of a second in less than nine seconds,and one one-thousandth of a second variation is sufiicient to create avery noticeable unbalancing eifect. The operator is thus enabled to veryquickly ascertain the accuracy of the tested watch with reference to thestandard watch.

After making this determination the operator now makes the properadjustments on the tested watch l3, which is lying conveniently on thesound pick-up device, and then again repeats the test to determine theresults. In accordance with my invention a number of adjustments andtests may be conveniently completed in a few,

minutes, and the watch is regulated to the desired degree of accuraywhile the customer waits, hereby avoiding the inconvenience of deprivingthe customer of his watch or the necessity of providing a second watchfor the use of the customer for several weeks.

The piezo-electric sound pick-up device and the piezo-electric headphonehave very good high frequency response characteristics, thereby makingit possible to obtain accurate binaural balancing in my system.Furthermore, these devices are not magnetic and may be used withoutdanger of magnetizing the timepiece. Suitable devices of this type areavailable on the market and form no part of my invention.

It will be seen that I have provided a simple system whereby thebinaural sense may be utilized for facilitating the quick adjustment ofwatchesor other timepieces whereby the tested watch is convenientlydisposed, the operators hands and visual attention are free forconveniently adjusting the timepiece, and visual indicators and rotatingmembers are eliminated.

Aside from the specific embodiments of the invention herein shown anddescribed, it will be understood that numerous details may be altered oromitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdisclosed and claimed, and that I do not desire to limit the inventionto the exact arrangements as herein set forth.v

I claim as my invention:

1. A testing device having in combination; a head-band, a. watch holdermounted on said head-band for holding a watch adjacent one ear of awearer, a telephone receiver secured on said.

translating sound impulses into electrical impulses, and adjustable timedelaying means intel-connected between said pick-up device and saidtelephone receiver.

2. In watch testing apparatus the combination of, means for holding awatch to one ear of an operator for listening directly thereto, meansfor adjustably retarding the generated impulses from another watch, andmeans for separately applyi ing the retarded impulsesto the other ear ofthe means for adiustably retarding the ticks received bysaid soundpick-up means, means for applying the retarded ticks to one ear of anoperator, and means for supporting a standard watch directly upontheother ear of the operator where- 'by the frequency of operation of thefirst mentioned watch may be conveniently compared with said standardwatch.

4. The method of comparing the operation of a timepiece to be testedwith the operation of a standard timepiece which consists in, operatingsaid timepieces simultaneously to produce impulses in accordance withthe respective operations thereof, retarding the impulses from one ofsaid timepieces into synchronous relation with the impulses from theother timepiece irrespective of the relative phase relation of thetimepieces. and ascertaining the operating condition of the testedtimepiece by synchronously comparing the impulses from said timepiecesirrespective of the operating phase relations thereof whereby anordinary accurate timepiece may be utilized as a standard timepiece ifdesired.

FREDERICK T. HICKS.

